How to Do the NEW Smoky Eye: Metallic Reds and Bronzes

When it comes to smoky eyes for summer, orange is the new black — and so are red, copper, and bronze. Try this trend if you dare!

We first spotted warm, metallic peepers at the Golden Globes, where Olivia Wilde’s smoldering burgundy lids stole the show. Then Lady Gaga’s Oscars appearance made headlines not just for the singer’s impassioned performance but also for her bold, bronzy-copper eyes.

Now we’re seeing this trend on the Paris runways — most notably at the fall 2016 ready-to-wear shows for Emanuel Ungaro, where red eyes ruled, and Mugler, which introduced a shock of orange on the upper lid only.

As flaming eyes light up runways and red carpets, we wanted to know if this look is viable in the real world. Who better to consult than makeup artists to the stars? We reached out to Amy Zdunowski-Roeder — whose celebrity clientele includes Georgina Chapman and Kate Mara — and Wei Lang, who counts Heidi Klum and Beyoncé among the celebs she’s worked with. They shared these practical tips for rocking a jewel-toned, smoky eye to your next evening event.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Choose the right tone: “If your skin has warm or pale undertones, golden bronzy-brown shades will look great on you,” says Zdunowski-Roeder. “If you have cool undertones, copper metallic colors will look beautiful.” For deeper skin tones, Lang says, “I love the look of orange and gold with touches of deep crimson or plum.” As for your iris shade, she says, “True bronze shadow works with every eye color.”

Always prime your eyes: This will keep the shadow from creasing and smudging, explains Zdunowski-Roeder. It will also cover any small veins or dark areas you may have on your lids.

Mix your finishes: “Shimmer and matte used together add beautiful dimension to your eye — and dimension is key,” says Zdunowski-Roeder. When using reds, though, Lang suggests sticking with shimmer so that the shadow doesn’t translate as a bruise. She recommends using cream shadow and then layering on powder; light layers work best.

Rely on eyeliner and mascara: When experimenting with copper and red tones, the biggest danger is accidentally looking like an extra from The Walking Dead! But eye-defining liners and mascara will bring this look to life. Lang emphasizes the importance of a dark brown or black eye liner on the waterline, and Zdunowski-Roeder recommends a very dark lash.

Set your boundaries: On the upper lid, “it’s important not to apply shadow too high beyond the crease,” says Lang. “For the bottom lid, [apply shadow] close to the lash line.”

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The runway look up close. (Photo: Getty Images)

Go wet and dry: Zdunowski-Roeder has fine-tuned her application technique. “Dampen – do not drench – a semi-fluffy brush in water and apply a bronze shadow from your lash line up to the crease, and softly blend out the edges. With a thinner, damp brush, repeat this technique under the eye. Then use a dry brush to pat the same color onto your lid and lower lash line.”

Keep your corners bright: Reds, coppers, and bronzes can actually make your eyes look bright and open when applied properly. The key? “Keep the inner corners of your eyes light,” says Lang. “Bring the inner corners of your eye to life with a gold, shimmery pencil or highlighter shadow,” adds Zdunowski-Roeder.

Make it smoky: “To really give a smoky effect, apply a darker matte brown or black eye shadow or pencil straight to the lash line and blend upward,” says Zdunowski-Roeder. “This will provide a gradient effect, which will really make your eyes pop. Repeat this technique on the lower lash line.”

Complete the look with well-defined brow, nude lip, and a fresh, simple complexion.